One of my favorite things about fall is the sudden appearance of pumpkin food on menus throughout the city. It’s everywhere! You can get a pumpkin muffin with your morning coffee at Dunkin Doughnuts or find a pumpkin dish on almost any menu at fancier sit-down places. I’ve just recently started my annual taste test of all things pumpkin this season, and couldn’t wait to share my latest findings.

As far as fast food goes, Corner Bakery’s pumpkin whoopee pie is the front runner. Two pumpkin cakes are sandwiched together with some excellent white frosting, and the combination is delectable. The whoopee pie is much better than Starbucks’ pumpkin scone, which tends to be dry, or Panera Bread’s pumpkin muffin that has an over cooked powdered sugar top.

My favorite pumpkin dish at a sit-down restaurant so far is the pumpkin soup at the Park Grill. It’s not too sweet or too rich or too thick, and it successfully walks the line between sweet and savory. A bowl is filling enough for lunch, and a cup makes a nice starter.

What pumpkin dishes do you like? Leave a comment or drop us a line on Twitter. I’ll keep you posted as I eat my way through pumpkin in Chicago!

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